Ten years later, and Adrien stood in another suit. Charcoal gray this time with the sage green cravat she always said brought out his eyes. His hair was shorter now, more professional, but still long enough so Marinette could tousle the top like she loved to.
He was freaking out, not in a scared way, but more in an anxious "why haven't I done this sooner?" kind of way. He went over what he was going to say for the hundredth time, and for the hundredth time he stumbled over his words.
"Argh!" he balled his fists into his hair, ignoring the disapproving look from his mother. She had combed it back into place about four times now. Nino just chuckled.
"You want me to call Alys? She can do her voodoo and you can pretend you're actually talking to Marinette."
Adrien smiled. Seeing her would definitely help. Seeing her always helped. Imagining having a Marinette illusion reminded him of the night they took down Germain.
"It was an illusion, dad," Chloé explained to her father later when they all gathered in their penthouse apartment. "It's Alya's power." She gestured in the direction of Alya, who was passed out on Nino's shoulder, Trixx in a similar state in her lap. As easy as it came to them, Alya was still new at using her powers, and maintaining such a solid illusion of Ladybug for so long completely drained her. The three espressos and tons of food she ate barely kept her upright for the rest of the party. Thankfully it didn't last too much longer, everyone was worn out from the 'excitement' of the night. They danced for a bit and then the mayor gave his closing speech and everyone started to file out.
"So you really are Ladybug," André turned to address Marinette.
"Yes, sir."
"And Adrien, you're Chat Noir?" He let out a laugh. "I've known Chat Noir since he was a baby."
Adrien laughed a bit uncomfortably, but also said yes.
"Well," the mayor sobered, and placed a hand on each of their shoulders paternally. "I'm happy to know Paris is in such good hands."
And it was. While there was no Hawkmoth--as both his parents had retired their miraculous, though Nooro and Duusu continued to live with them until another holder had been chosen--there was plenty of crime. They continued to patrol most nights, taking shifts, and helped the police and fire brigade where they could. For the most part, though, they were under the radar and allowed to live their lives.
Adrien continued modeling, although he was still pursuing school and was currently working on his doctoral dissertation in quantum physics. He'd explain it, but as Marinette always said, it was gibberish. Sexy when he said it, but gibberish nonetheless.
Marinette started working for his father as an intern in university. After taking a year to work for a company in London, she came back to Paris and started her own line that skyrocketed to success. She recently signed a deal to the Agreste Agency and would be debuting her first solo line under the family brand in about a month.
Nino was an underground sensation in Paris and was in high demand across Europe. He'd traveled for a few years while the rest attended university and he created enough name recognition now to make a living doing select shows in Paris, traveling when he wanted to, and discovering the next generation of talent.
Alya shocked them all by moving to Africa and the Middle East for a few years. She went undercover covering the refugee crises and dictatorial governments accused of UN violations. She used her miraculous when she needed to, but Trixx was just as happy to go along with it. She'd testified against warlords and spoken out against injustices, and Marinette's eyes shone with pride every time she talked about her to others, but it was obvious she was grateful to have Alya back in Paris and out of harm's way. Her and Nino took a break before university, but lately seemed to be getting cozier.
Chloé followed in her father's political footsteps, but was not quite so in the spotlight. She had had enough of being in front of the camera during her father's run as mayor, and decided her skills were much more suited to behind the scenes. She was the person you called when you needed something done. She made a name for herself, albeit one whispered and not shouted, and when something went wrong and you needed a fixer, she was there. Adrien always joked that it was a good thing they were friends, because the amount of influence she had on people and information about the inner workings of the political and elite world was terrifying. Her power didn't bother Mathys though, whom she married the year before. He'd veered out of politics and was now a French literature professor. They were oddly well-suited.
They'd all found their callings, but without fail they were always called back together. Here they were, ten years later, all living in Paris and a team once more. He looked around the room, tears in his eyes.
"Oh god, here comes the waterworks," Chloé, one of his groomsmen--groomswomen?-- walked over and straightened his cravat. "Pull yourself together, mush. You're just marrying the love of your life." Finally, she muttered under her breath but smiled at him nonetheless.
Finally was his sentiments exactly. An idea sprung into his head, and he checked his watch quickly. 20 minutes. He had time.
"Plagg, claws out!" he transformed and jumped out the open window, the bemused smirked of Chloé, Nino and his mother watching him as he went.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ugh, Alya. It's not that bad luck, right?"
"Girl, no." Alya was resolute. She would not let Marinette go see Adrien, even if she was transformed into Ladybug.
"It's not bad luck. I'm not me. Not really. I'm a masked superhero!" Marinette continued to argue futily.
"Mari," Alya lifted her hand to her forehead in exasperation, but whatever she was going to say next was cut off by the screech of the window opening and a blonde head peeking through. One hand was covering his eyes while the other held onto the window frame for dear life.
"Princess? I can't see you before the wedding, but Ladybug..."
"Spots on!" She yelled before he had even finished, and he was in the room and in from of her in a flash.
"You two were made for each other," Alya shook her head, but was suppressing a smile. "2 minutes, that's all!" She pointed a finger at the two of them, her other hand on her hip, before leaving the room.
Chat was embracing her the second Alya left, and she smiled into his neck where she had tucked her face.
"I won't kiss you, because that's testing luck and I'm bad luck to begin with." He pulled back and rested her forehead against her, gazing down and just drinking in the sight of her. He felt the tension start to drain from his body as she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, tousling the top again. He smiled, leaning into the familiar feeling and humming in happiness. It was humming, not purring, no matter what Marinette told you.
"What did I do to deserve you?" He asked, staring at the tender way she regarded him.
"Oh Kitty," she kissed him on both cheeks, and then pulled back to look at him. "You were you. You're more than I ever hoped for, all I ever wanted, my perfect balance and the perfect partner. You say I have all the luck, and I guess I can't disagree. You found me. You saw me, and today I get to marry my best friend." She reached up to wipe a tear from her eye and released a breathy laugh.
"I have loved you, I love you and I will always love you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I am so going to mess up my vows out there," he said and she giggled. She had caught him practicing more than once, with a flustered look on his face. He smiled down at her. "But with you right here, right now, I can say for certainty that I may be destruction and misfortune incarnate, but I was at least granted one single instance of fortune. One ephemeral moment, just a whisper of luck, and it was the first time I saw your face. If in my entire life that's all I get, that's all I'll need. I will forever be eternally grateful that you knocked me over that day." They beamed at each other, remembering that it was quite literally Ladybug's clumsiness that brought them together.
"That you gave me your umbrella," she added and they laughed recalling how their civilian persons had met, too.
"We've faced mountains together," he continued, "and while I wish nothing more for you than a joyful and easy life, something I can promise is that whatever may come, I'll be by your side for as long as you'll have me."
"Forever," she immediately responded.
"Forever, then." They closed their eyes and their heads came together, noses touching just short of a kiss.
"See you at the altar, Bugaboo." He left the ghost of a kiss on her cheek, and was out the window before she opened her eyes.
"I love you, mon chaton." She whispered after him, a smile lighting up her face as she released her transformation. She sat at her vanity and Tikki kissed her cheek before carefully lifting Marinette's veil and placing it over her face. She floated up to rest on the pillow it formed on top her head and gazed down at her charge thinking she had never looked more radiant. Tikki would have to be hidden for the ceremony, so the old friends just sat in silence, enjoying this moment.
Sabine popped her head in, smiling warmly at her daughter and the small god that sat on her head.
"Ready?" She asked and Tikki flew to hide in the red roses of Marinette's bouquet.
Marinette grabbed her bouquet gingerly and practically raced out the door, knowing her happily ever after was waiting at the altar and that was just the beginning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~The End~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This epilogue gave me life <3 I mean, I'm a little biased about how much I love it, but how can you say no to a bunch of fluffly mush, and gaahhh <33
It's based on a comic on pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/213991419773539282) that I absolutely love and seems SO THEM, so I used it as my inspiration :)
Thank you all SO MUCH for sticking with this until the end! I have a SEQUEL and a bunch of one-shots posted to archiveofourown and fanfiction (all under the username unforgetabelle)
Thanks again!
~unforgetabELLE